A Day in the Life

It’s been said that the cobbler’s children have no shoes, and I’m afraid that the sentiment is usually true when it come to photgraphs of my own children. After quite a few Christmas card portraits this year for other people’s children, I finally got around to my own. Now if only we can get around to sending them out!

On a related note, I feel the need to weigh in on the yearly Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays fiasco. It seems like many Christians in the United States become offended at the trend toward replacing “Christmas” references with more generic terms like “holiday.” Although this is partly due to the absudity of political correctness gone to extremes, I sense that the real reason behind the uproar is the feeling that the country is moving away from its imagined Christian roots. What is at stake is a loss of power. Though it is never stated explicity, what those who complain are really saying is, “We’re losing control.” And though I would number myself as a Christian in America, I am not offended by the loss of “Christmas,” because being a Christian should never be about power. It is about weakness in a manger and brokenness on the cross. So may your holidays be happy in this two thousand and sixth year Anno Domini, or the Common Era if you so insist.

The portion of Elm Park west of Park Street holds this inviting old staircase through the fallen leaves.

Foothills Theater is certainly one of Worcester’s hidden gems, in both the literal and metaphorical sense, nestled between a parking garage and one of the towers that will remain standing after the upcoming city square renewal project begins.

From the City of Worcester website:

Rich with symbolism, the Celtic Cross is a memorial to the early Irish settlers, their descendants, and all the Irish-Americans who gave so much to the City.

Incised blasted panels on the cross depict scenes of Ireland; an Irish wolfhound near the round tower in County Waterford, and a thatched roof cottage represent rural roots. Two scenes show the Irish in Worcester; laborers digging the Blackstone Canal and a likeness of Christ’s Church on Temple Street. A sailing ship suggests the earliest immigrants’ passage and a tableau of tools represents the work which the Irish found in their new homeland. On the base is a simplified 1829 map of Worcester, showing landmarks important to the Irish community.

The Celtic Cross is laced with traditional symbols — Celtic knots, shamrocks, the Tara Brooch, fraternal shields, a claddagh ring, and crossed Irish and USA flags.

The Barre granite cross was erected to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first permanent settlement of Irish in Worcester.

The cross stands on the north side of City Hall.

The building in the background is one of the newest buildings on the UMass University Hospital, and part of the medical school.

Anika has her annual discussion with Santa at The Hebert Candy Mansion. Free chocolate lollipop and no elf pressuring you to buy pictures of your kid with Santa, but since you’re in the store anyhow, might as well buy several pounds of candy. Christmas marketing at its finest. Yum.

The mission of the American Antiquarian Society is “to collect, preserve, and make available the printed record of what is now the United States from 1640 through 1876.” You can go for a free tour on Wednesday afternoon’s at 3PM, which is where I first saw these bookstacks with the glass floors. This is probably one of those places in Worcester where everybody passes by but never goes inside.

Reflections on Long Pond at Rutland State Park. Besides fishing, the park seems like a good place for mountain biking.

Holy electric bill, batman!

The Shepherd Hill Regional High School’s Chamber Choir and “Madrigirls” perform a Christmas concert.